Convert from writer to developer-experience engineer in the next 18 months — learn enough TypeScript/Python to ship docs-as-code, SDK samples, and interactive tutorials; DX-engineer bands sit 40-70% above pure tech-writer bands and are not in the LLM blast zone.

Build a public body of work in one technical vertical (API design, dev tooling, or AI/ML platforms) — a personal site plus a recurring newsletter or conference talks per year shifts visibility from 'passive_profile' to 'thought_leader' and is the single biggest lever for a creative-field IC.

Move from 'well-known' to a top-tier developer-first employer (a hyperscaler, frontier-AI lab, or a recognised dev-tool company) — the employer-brand premium for content/DX roles at those companies is 50%+ over generic tech.